When it comes to grooming new leadership in defense communities, first-hand training and insights from others who have been in the trenches can often make a big difference between local leadership success or potential community confusion.

The Defense Community Leadership Academy (DCLA) scheduled Sept. 23-25 in Washington, D.C., and co-hosted by ADC and Blue Star Families, is an immersive two-day learning and networking event to develop leaders and equip them with the latest tools and strategies for growing capacity to support military families at the local level.

Instructed by leading service member and military family support experts, DCLA trains emerging defense community leaders to expand their leadership toolbox to nurture and improve the quality of life and community support systems our service members and their families depend on.

Past attendees have praised DCLA for its impact on their networking and community leadership abilities. Brittany Boccher, the 2017 AFI Military Spouse of the Year, shares first-hand appreciation of DCLA’s training and networking value.

“I have had the unique opportunity to attend numerous summits, conferences and academies and the Defense Community Leadership Academy was by far the most impactful,” Boccher says. “I’ve valued DCLA for providing networking opportunities with community partners around the nation, and for its useful resources to add to my toolbox as I assist in better serving my local and national military spouse community.”

Boccher adds that DCLA lives up to its leadership development and defense community relationship-building reputation.

“Most important, this academy was the first event I attended that was full of useful and legitimate information to truly make me a more successful leader,” Boccher says. “It was the best use of my time and it is important for the connections I made and relationships I’ve built through DCLA. It really needs to be mirrored throughout the military space. It focuses on the type of content that is useful, and that we can take back and put to work in our communities and outside of our communities,” she adds.